Relation between falls self-efficacy and physical, cognitive factors in the community-dwelling elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to clarify the relation between falls self-efficacy and physical , cognitive factors in the community-dwelling elderly (mean = 66.6years old, N = 291, male = 112, female = 179).The measure of 16 falls self-efficacy items was consisted of Japan version of FES and external environment questionnaire items when elderly people going out. Multiple regression analyses for falls self-efficacy and other variables revealed in male that the following variables were significantly related to falls self-efficacy ; knee joint pain, fall history, and stride and in female that knee joint pain, fall history, the sense of balance, stride and low back pain. These results suggest the importance of emphasizing pain control in male. Further, in female, to conduct pain control, increase attention and mobility are important to improve self-efficacy leading to the prevention of falls.